Magical memories of growing up in Palm Springs

Magical memories of Palm Springs

I loved Christopher Reynolds’ article about Palm Springs in 1959 [“So Modern It’s Like 1959,” Dec. 6]. That’s the year I moved there. I was 11, my parents had separated, and my mother and I moved to Palm Springs to start a new chapter in our lives.

My favorite place of all was MFK -- Milton F. Kreiss, a drug store with a counter and small restaurant. It was Beverly Hills in Palm Springs and a magnet for celebrities. It was an unwritten law that you didn’t bother the stars. No autographs, no pictures, no staring. It made them relax and enjoy themselves.

Palm Springs was an amazing place to grow up -- a small town with lots of sophistication and absolute magic. Reynolds brought all that back for me.

Jan DeLoach Glazier

Sacramento

Time to book that ticket to Lisbon

Nice article about Lisbon [“Lisbon Loves the Night Life” by Monica Corcoran, Dec. 6]. I totally agree and enjoyed it very much. I have spent lots of time there in the past. Corcoran’s piece makes me long to return there soon.

Ramiro Mendes

Beverly Hills

Protection for travel-related buys

It is surprising that Catharine Hamm did not inform readers that the state provides travel-related protection for its residents with the California Seller of Travel law [“Protect Yourself,” On the Spot, Dec. 6]. Anyone selling travel to Californians is required to register with the attorney general’s office as a “seller of travel” and contribute to a fund to protect people who suffer losses due to fraud or other unfortunate circumstances.

All of us who provide conscientious travel management look to the L.A. Times Travel section to give readers appropriate information. Hamm’s article, while interesting, leaves out the most important advice available: Use CST-participating professionals. If you have a problem, the fund is there to protect you, as is your travel consultant.

Anastasia Mann

Chairman and CEO

Corniche Group Inc.

West Hollywood

Mt. Whitney -- in just one day

I enjoyed Jordan Rane’s article on climbing Mt. Whitney [“Three Men and a Mountain,” Dec. 6], but I would like to offer a different perspective. The best and most intense experience climbing Whitney is to do it in a single day. This eliminates the need to carry overnight camping gear and extra food and water. It also avoids the need for an overnight pass.

Anyone in reasonably good physical condition can do this. I did it earlier this year at age 60. I drove up the day before my climb, camped overnight at Whitney Portal to acclimate somewhat to the altitude and started up the trail shortly before dawn. I was at the summit by mid-afternoon, after an exhilarating climb. By mid-evening, I was back at Whitney Portal, where I again spent the night. I enjoyed an uncrowded trail both ways and, except for one bad slip on an icy patch, I had no problems. I agree with Rane that it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but standing at the summit is a peak experience in every sense of the word.

Cary D. Lowe

San Diego